U.S., Iraqi forces surround Ramadi to quell insurgency

Washington Post

Published 4:00 am, Monday, February 21, 2005

2005-02-21 04:00:00 PDT Baghdad -- U.S. and Iraqi security forces surrounded the city of Ramadi in the violent Sunni Triangle area northwest of the capital Sunday in an effort to confront a simmering insurgency that has gripped the city and spilled into neighboring towns and villages in recent months.

Also, Sunni Muslim tribal leaders met to determine their place in a Shiite-dominated Iraqi government. As the Shiite majority prepared to take control of the country's first freely elected government, tribal chiefs representing Sunni Arabs in six provinces issued a list of demands -- including participation in the government and drafting a new constitution.

U.S. Marines and Iraqi National Guardsmen set up checkpoints at the main entrances to Ramadi and established a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., the U.S. military said. Security forces launched simultaneous operations in the western towns of Heet, Baghdad and Haditha along the Euphrates River, an area populated by Sunni Muslims loyal to deposed president Saddam Hussein.

Fighter planes roared over Ramadi as tanks and humvees lumbered through the city.